96-year-old World War II veteran and cancer patient gets wish granted

Upper Gwynedd Township, Pa. (WTXF) - Not everyone gets to see their dying wish come true, but with the right family and friends— one with connections to a bagpiper— a World War II veteran got his wish Thursday.

Harry Snyder could hardly control his emotions. The 96-year-old military veteran and cancer patient likely does not have long to live and wanted to hear bagpipes before they are used at his funeral.

His family, friends, local military and police made it happen right in the driveway of his Upper Gwynedd Township home.

Harry Snyder was 22 years old when he stormed the beaches of Normandy with the U.S. military on D-Day—a battle that changed the course of World War II and history. 

 “I was lucky. I never got wounded. I came close many, many  times,"  Snyder said.

“This is a nice surprise," Doris, his wife of 73 years, said.

Snyder turns 97 next month.